Who is Gonzalo Leon Jr? Houston man charged for fatally shooting teen Julian Guzman during 'ding, dong, ditch' prank

11-year-old Julian Guzman was fatally shot in Houston while playing a prank. Suspect Gonzalo Leon Jr. has been charged and booked in Harris County jail.

Updated on: Sep 2, 2025, 23:37:23 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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The suspect and the victim of a fatal shooting in Houston, Texas on Saturday night have been identified. The Houston Police Department identified the 11-year-old boy fatally shot while playing 'ding, dong, ditch' prank as Julian Guzman. The suspect charged was identified as Gonzalo Leon Jr.

Gonzalo Leon Jr (L) and Julian Guzman (R). (Houston Police Department and Facebook)

On Tuesday, Gonzalo Leon Jr was booked at the Harris County jail in Houston for the shooting in the Eastside neighborhood. The teen was pronounced dead at the hospital after being shot while playing the prank at a home on Eastside on Saturday night. It was not immediately clear if Leon Jr lived in one of the homes where Guzman knocked.

"Officers were told that Guzman was ringing doorbells of homes in the area and running away," a statement from Houston PD read. "A witness stated Guzman was running from a house, after ringing the doorbell, just prior to suffering a gunshot wound."

The “ding dong ditch” involves someone ringing a doorbell (or knocks on a door) and then quickly running away before the person inside answers. It’s usually done by kids or teens as a mischievous joke.

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The shooting happened at around 11 p.m. on Saturday, and the police were informed around midnight, the department said in a statement on Sunday. Guzman was with a group of friends on Racine Street when he was running away after knocking on the door. But shots rang out, and he was hit.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant M. Cass and Detective J. Brown had said that Guzman suffered from two gunshot wounds.

“HPD patrol officers responded to a shooting call at the above address and learned a male was shot and had been transported to an area hospital. Doctors pronounced him deceased today (Aug. 31),” Brown added.

Gonzalo Leon Jr is currently lodged in Harris County in Texas.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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